Haynesworth could be in hot water with the league

Posted by Mike Florio on August 22, 2011, 3:11 PM EST

AP

Given that the incident involving defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth allegedly fondling a waitress occurred before the lockout started and in light of the fact that it was resolved after the lockout ended, Haynesworth doesn’t fall within the group of players who potentially face discipline for off-duty misconduct occurring at a time when all players were involuntarily off of duty.

And so the league undoubtedly will “review” the case under the Personal Conduct Policy. (Indeed, that’s precisely what NFL spokesman Greg Aiello just told me via e-mail.)

Hayneworth’s history could haunt him in this regard. Though it happened nearly five years ago, he once applied a cleat to the forehead of Cowboys center Andre Gurode during a game. He received a five-game suspension for that incident.

Also, given that Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was suspended six games (reduced to four) without ever being arrested or charged with rape, Haynesworth “no contest” plea to sexual simple assault should result in a significant punishment, if there’s any consistency or fairness in the Personal Conduct Policy. (And even though Haynesworth pleaded “no contest” only — only? — to simple assault, the fact remains that the assault was against a woman, and that he was charged originally with sexual abuse.)

Then there’s the fact that Haynesworth widely is regarded as a bad guy. He’ll likely get no sympathy from the league office, and the only hope he has now is that Commissioner Roger Goodell will chose to go easy on Haynesworth given that he plays for the team owned by Robert Kraft, who was so instrumental in getting the labor deal resolved.

Speaking of the Patriots, they possibly will move swiftly to cut him, taking the position that they traded for him only after he insisted privately to the franchise that he wasn’t guilty of the crime. (If that happens, he’d likely make a bee line for the Dream Team, where his former position coach in Tennessee is a member of the staff.)

The only good news, if there is any, for Haynesworth is that, per a source with knowledge of the situation, the case will be completely dismissed if he stays out of trouble for 18 months. By then, however, whatever penalty imposed by the league likely will have been completely served.

This is probably why he has been held out of the Patriots practices up to this point. Bill Belichick wanted to see how this would unfold, and if it turned ugly (like say a suspension comes of this), then he’d cut him, and Fat Al wouldnt be any the wiser to the Patriots defensive schemes. We will probably see either Fat Al start practicing now, or get cut.

“…the only hope he has now is that Commissioner Roger Goodell will chose to go easy on Haynesworth given that he plays for the team owned by Robert Kraft, who was so instrumental in getting the labor deal resolved.”

Special treatment for Haynesworth because he is under contract with Robert Kraft will likely be frowned upon by the other 31 owners – especially since Pryor was suspended for 5 games for non-NFL infractions and before he was an employee. The ‘loaded’ Patriots don’t need any more breaks by the league.

doe22us says:Aug 22, 2011 3:23 PM

Haynesworth is a fat lazy degenerate..is any one surprised he pleaded no contest? less his ability to play football he probably will be on a street corner somewhere sipping his 40. Heck what am i saying he must be doing it right now.

Rosenthals post states “simple assault” not “sexual assault”. will this have any affect on his punishment by the league?

brianpat says:Aug 22, 2011 3:24 PM

I’m curious, how do you get “sexual assault ” from ” one count of simple assault ” This is what he and the DA agreed too ! So he admitted to touching the woman in a non sexual way.

A charge that would apply to someone who pushes someone ?

What about the Security Guard that claims the woman’s attorney offered him $50,000 to testify that it wasn’t consensual even though he thought it was by the way she allowed him to do it and by the way she reacted ?

It’ll be interesting to see the NFL’s reasoning in any suspension considering Harrison got a fine for beating his wife !

if he gets suspended, it might be for 2 games, if that. Roethlisberger’s case is hardly comparable. Rape isn’t close to assault or whatever it is that Haynesworth was accused of. the pats in any case knew about this situation before they acquired him via trade. if they were going to let him go because of this, they never would have picked him up in the first place.

Why? Did you want to kick Brtt Favre out of the league for sending pictures his weenie to Jen Sterger and harrassing her? Do you guys have any idea how much behavior like Hayesworth’s mimic society? Business executives? Poiliticians? Clergy slobs? NFL Owners? You might as well shut the league down if that is your bar. Gimme a break with the self righteous gobbledegook.

Ofcourse he will go to the”Dream Team”! Belicheck never planned to play him. This was a favor for his boy Reid. Watch how the pats get a inexplicable late draft pick, or trade in next years draft from Philly if/when he ends up there. Anyway, he sucks as a teammate and a human being obviously! Wherever he goes, GLAD HE WILL NEVER WEAR A SKINS UNIFORM AGAIN!!!! #HTTR

TheDPR says:Aug 22, 2011 3:36 PM

Regarding comments that the Commissioner should in some way defer to the public judicial system before deciding to punish athletes, I couldn’t disagree more.

The judicial system is pretty unreliable in this country and for anyone to rely on its judgements as an accurate determination of events would be absurd. Just because someone is found guilty doesn’t mean he did it and just because someone is found not guilty doesn’t mean he didn’t do it.

I’m glad the league is willing and able to determine what a person actually did and then decide a punishment or not without relying on the court system which is a totally different animal.

“Speaking of the Patriots, they possibly will move swiftly to cut him, taking the position that they traded for him only after he insisted privately to the franchise that he wasn’t guilty of the crime. ”

Do you really think the Patriots weren’t aware of the entire situation. I wouldn’t be surprised if they told Albert to just do a plea and man up and take whatever punishment is coming. They can survive a suspension. Getting him fresh in the middle of the season maybe a good thing.

flagstaffphotos says:Aug 22, 2011 4:10 PM

Strange – I hadn’t heard before that the Raiders had moved to Foxboro!

Minimum suspension of 10 games, but it absolutely should be one year. This is not his first issue, and Albert should really know better (not that we expect him to actually act better). I don’t care what he or the DA called it, it should never have happened and Albert needs to pay a professional price for his crime.

I think mandatory counseling should also be included, as well as a warning of expulsion from the league for any future offenses.

If the NFL wants to clean up its image here is a giant stain on that image. Now is the time to make a statement.

In his nine season career, Fat Albert has 30.5 sacks. That’s a little more than 3 per year.

Yeah, that’s a steal. Now you get a fat, unmotivated bad-attitude bum that has a criminal record…

japdouds says:Aug 22, 2011 4:23 PM

Only in the NFL can a person accused of doing something be punished harsher than somebody convicted of doing the same thing.

buddycianci says:Aug 22, 2011 4:34 PM

I don’t think it’s a well thought out argument that the Pats would release Haynesworth over this issue. They knew about the pending case. There is a good chance they have been planning for the consequences of an NFL punishment.

If he’s suspended for 6 or 8 games, and the Patriots can have him ready to go mid-season, that will work out well for them (in-theory).

You guys changed “guilty” to “no contest” without notifying the reader.

At what point to I get a by-line?

shageman13 says:Aug 22, 2011 4:38 PM

James Harrison was arrested and charged with simple assault in 2008. Charges were dropped after he went through counseling. No action was taken by the league.

In 2009, Quinn Ojinaka was arrested for simple battery. He was suspended for one game.

Tony McDaniel was arrested for domestic battery in 2010. He plead no contest to disorderly conduct. He was suspended for one game.

Phillip Merling was charged with aggravated battery in 2010. The woman did not testify against him, and charges were dropped. No league action was taken.

You could’ve picked any of these 4 cases and they would’ve been a hell of a lot more relevant than Roethlisberger. Grabbing a woman’s breast is not even close to the same thing as multiple rape accusations. If this were Haynesworth’s first incident, it’d be a one game suspension. Since it’s not, expect 2-4, and expect Belichick and Kraft to fully embrace him when he comes back to play.

Anyways the patriots first few games should be a cake walk regardless.

btowngetsdown says:Aug 22, 2011 4:41 PM

Didn’t Haynesworth also plead “no contest” to all of the Redskin’s conditioning tests?

steelerssmack4u says:Aug 22, 2011 4:44 PM

Belicheck “taped” the incident and thinks he can prove Albert is not guilty.

tombrookshire says:Aug 22, 2011 5:01 PM

Dream team will be the cream team unless and until that defense unit jells and if and when they get a solid linebacking crew. Reid achilles heel is his linebackers each and every season. Why? Because linebacker is not an important position on Reid coached teams. Like saying, receiever is not an important position. Wait a minute, on Reid’s teams, at least until Jackson showed up, they weren’t important either!

melikefootball says:Aug 22, 2011 5:03 PM

By past issues, God-del won’t touch him, he plays in New England now.

dontlikecravens says:Aug 22, 2011 5:18 PM

Given that Ben was suspended (deservedly so) despite charges he ought to get some form of “punishment”.

What I’d really like to know is why hasn’t the league gone after Broncos DB Parrish Cox. DNA tests confirmed that he’s the father of a baby who’s mother he raped while she was passed out. What gives “God”dell?

Fat Albert seems like a bad guy, but don’t compare him to a rapist like Ben Roethlisberger. Major difference. One is a pig, but the other should be in prison for his crimes. There is a special place in hell for sexual predators like Roethlisberger – he is the lowest of the low in society.

Ilovefoolsball….PLEASE tell me your post was meant to be sarcastic?? Albert Haynsworth only has himself to blame (not the “racists” or “fatcists”). He has engaged in a pattern of stupid/ irresponsible/anti-social behavior for several YEARS….
1) Stomping on the head of a helmet-less opponent. 2) Spitting in a teammates face 3) multiple tickets for reckless driving 4) a willingness to sit on his lazy a## after being rewarded with a HUGE contract 4) pleading no contest to simple assault. I think Goodell should definately suspend him (2-4 games seems fair). Although, I’m not sure “Fat Albert would learn anything.

Simple assault is hardly grounds for much of a suspension. IF it happened, it would have been a meaningless game or maybe two.

shageman13 says:Aug 22, 2011 6:14 PM

He’s not going to the Eagles. The Pats are switching to a 4-3 in part because it fits Haynesworth.

frankiefiveangels says:Aug 22, 2011 6:18 PM

Maybe I’m wrong but is it possible that the Patriots would like Haynesworth to get a 4 game suspension? They are so deep on the defensive line it saves them from cutting someone like Pryor or Love (a suspended player does not take up a roster spot) and can be used strategically similar to a PUP listed player. It would allow the Pats to keep a roster spot open for the length of the suspension when they have a better idea of who would be a longer term contributor to the team and then bring in a fresher Haynesworth.

bucks12965 says:Aug 22, 2011 6:20 PM

But…I don’t understand…Al said he doesn’t even like black women.

As far as the suspension goes…it mostly depends on if Al’s teammates stick up for him, and if he signs jerseys. Because Mr. Goodell has made it clear that that is a big part of his decision making when handing down suspensions.

This site’s readers crack me up. They actually attempt to get themselves excited in the hopes that N.England will be somehow ‘punished’ for trading for a still talented guy (although he’s a bit of a low life) for a bucket of Kentucky fried chicken.

He was a yr removed from being THE top free agent on the market, and signing for 100+ million. Now belichick went out, and grabbed him up for a 6th round pick (in 2013 LOL), and gave him a 1 million–1 1/2 dollar contract.

Do you all really…I mean “really” think that Belichick didn’t look into the charges/investigation and possible punishment first? LOL…!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do you all really think that anyone’s “getting anything over” on belichick or the patriots in this particular situation??? I am sure that he looked into the potential of having him suspended for a game or two first, and knew the specifics of the case and punishment. Hell, I wouldn’t be even remotely surprised if haynesworth didn’t plead ‘no contest’ under Belichick’s advice….

footballphan says:
Aug 22, 2011 6:26 PM
This site’s readers crack me up. They actually attempt to get themselves excited in the hopes that N.England will be somehow ‘punished’ for trading for a still talented guy (although he’s a bit of a low life) for a bucket of Kentucky fried chicken.

He was a yr removed from being THE top free agent on the market, and signing for 100+ million. Now belichick went out, and grabbed him up for a 6th round pick (in 2013 LOL), and gave him a 1 million–1 1/2 dollar contract.

Do you all really…I mean “really” think that Belichick didn’t look into the charges/investigation and possible punishment first? LOL…!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do you all really think that anyone’s “getting anything over” on belichick or the patriots in this particular situation??? I am sure that he looked into the potential of having him suspended for a game or two first, and knew the specifics of the case and punishment. Hell, I wouldn’t be even remotely surprised if haynesworth didn’t plead ‘no contest’ under Belichick’s advice….

Again, many here crack me up with this diluted thinking.
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Its how all the haters and wanna taste winning fans play fantasy football with themselves.

He plays for the Pats* now– of course he won’t be punished at all, as Goodell is in Kraft’s back pocket, if history is any guide. Time to show equal justice for all for a change, Roger, and quit showing your favoritism toward the large market teams….

bucks12965 says:Aug 22, 2011 6:55 PM

Fooballphan, other than the amount of money Al stole from the Skins (it was really only $42 mil) your overall sentiment is correct.

All the other GMs & coaches should just not answer when the see B. Belichick on caller ID.

I appears this site and many of its commenters are hoping that the Patriots will be disqualified from the season.

madrid517 says:Aug 22, 2011 7:25 PM

This guy doesn’t deserve to have the luxury of being a Professional football player. There is millions of people who dream to have this guys ability that are watching him be a complete idiot and wasting it. Kick his a?! out of the league to make room for a guy that will actually respect the NFL and it’s fans.

joyjoy69 says:Aug 22, 2011 8:31 PM

rcali says: Aug 22, 2011 3:52 PM

ESPN has just announced that this was all part of the plan by the great Belicheat. Once again the Pats have outsmarted everyone!!!

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Wow, I almost thought we’d get one article about a Patriots player without a response using the name “Belicheat!” Way to keep the streak alive and show the originality of a 3 year old child copying every word her older brother says…

joyjoy69 says:Aug 22, 2011 8:37 PM

murabma says: Aug 22, 2011 6:49 PM

He plays for the Pats* now– of course he won’t be punished at all, as Goodell is in Kraft’s back pocket, if history is any guide. Time to show equal justice for all for a change, Roger, and quit showing your favoritism toward the large market teams….

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Wow! Pats never get punished?! They pay the largest fine (and the coach gets hit with the largest fine ever imposed on a coach) in league history for breaking a rule that a.) had no effect on the games and b.) was being committed be numerous other teams, and people still seem to think they get away with anything they want?! I’m sure that having the commish in his back pocket helped to prevent Rodney Harrison from being the most fined player of his generation (ok, maybe it didn’t). Why even try to reason with people who are still bringing up spygate so long after the world has moved on? Keep on hating, and the Pats will just keep on winning.

When every smart decision or major news story about a great move by the Patriots makes you more frustrated, you picked a great to to hate. You will never be short of ammo!

richm2256 says:Aug 22, 2011 8:55 PM

murabma says:
Goodell is in Kraft’s back pocket, if history is any guide.
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History? You mean when he wacked them $750K and the loss of a first round pick?

THAT history???

Moron.

shageman13 says:Aug 22, 2011 9:37 PM

If Goodell really liked the Pats, he would’ve punished the Phins and Jets, who were both caught taping before the Patriots were.

siggy00 says:Aug 23, 2011 2:09 AM

“What I’d really like to know is why hasn’t the league gone after Broncos DB Parrish Cox. DNA tests confirmed that he’s the father of a baby who’s mother he raped while she was passed out. What gives “God”dell?”

Cox isn’t the white cracker QB from Pittsburgh.

He’s as guilty as sin based on his statements and the physical evidence.

He plays on while uncharged Ben who DA Bright said didn’t even have probable cause to arrest him sat at home for a month.